Came across this and thought it may be of interest to ATI users.http://www.rage3d.com/board/showthread.php...readid=33716791Bill

From what I read few days ago, 3.8 does have an automatic overclocking utility provided by ATI.It overclocks the card to a certain point until it begins heating and then begins reducing clocks if it heats too much, but not beyond the cards normal settings.What comes to the monitor, must be bad monitors if those brake due to an ancient dilemma of the monitors - too high refresh rate - which was already fixed in all monitors by early 90's (at least to my knowledge..).It's funny people doesn't read driver notes and then wonders why it heats more than usual and I don't even have a Radeon and I know it :> (see ATI OVERDRIVE): http://www2.ati.com/drivers/Catalyst_38_Release_Notes.html

Yes I am sure you are correct about people not reading notes etc. I dont have a Radeon either but I am planning on getting one (9600XT). I thought by posting this users could either add or subtract to the report.thanksBill

Actually if EVERYONE, yourself included really did read the release notes you and others would have seen that the ATI "Overdrive" feature only affects 9800XT cards and not any Radeon based card. Unless you own a 9800XT than your card is in no way shape or form being automatically OC'ed.From the release notes we all read:"The new ATI OVERDRIVE (patent pending) tab, currently available for the RADEON

I read them and knew it only applied to the 9800XT, and I am really sorry for posting it. I thought it may have been helpfulWont do it agian.Bill

Bill,Please don't take what I posted the wrong way. If it came out that way I apologize. Was busting chops about the reading the release note comment mostly. Replied to the wrong post. Actually was meant for the second post and not your original reply. Still good info just need to make it clear when you posted. Thanks for the info nonetheless. :)Again, no harm meant.Bobby

From reading those posts, most of those guys experiencing temperature problems are either overclocking or running the softmode trying to get more out of their cards then it was designed for. Lots of other heat related problems come from inadequate case cooling. When I bought my Alienware, I got the AlienIce cooling solution. It's a completely separate case fan that blows directly on the video card. I don't over clock. I don't use the softmodes. I always make sure my monitor is set so that it displays only the resolutions and refresh rates that it can handle. I'm running a newer 21" Sony. In short, I've never had a problem. I'm currently running the Omega 2.4.96 Dell drivers. My 9700 Pro does run like it's on steroids with these drivers; but I attribute that to well designed drivers. So far, I've seen nothing to be concerned about. Other than wondering how ATI improved both IQ and Performance and got rid of all the FSim problems at the same time. They must have been listening to us after all. When I get some time, FS2k2 is gonna be history. I'll miss the ole classic.

>Bill,>>Please don't take what I posted the wrong way. If it came out>that way I apologize. Was busting chops about the reading the>release note comment mostly. Replied to the wrong post.>Actually was meant for the second post and not your original>reply. Still good info just need to make it clear when you>posted. Thanks for the info nonetheless. :)>>Again, no harm meant.>>BobbyNo harm done or taken :-)Thanks for the thought.Bill

Well, interestingly I had a number of stability problems when I went to the 3.8's and they were not easy to to get rid off. Simply re-installing the 3.7's wasn't enough...long story...but, an interesting aspect of the instability is that it had a heat dependent type of characteristic, and I wondered if in some way the 3.8 was causing the VPU or GRAM to dissipate more heat. I considered it very unlikely, but interesting that this post came up. BTW, the link in the original post didn't work so I was unable to read the article, so maybe I'm just blowing hot air, as it were...

Actually, after a few quirks I've been having with the 3.8's and reading this post, I went over to rage3d and found posts touting similar symptoms. The problem I was having was that my TV card output window was showing uncharacteristic tearing, much like the artifacts one gets in 3DMark2001SE when one cranks the video card overclocking settings a little too high. Also, my monitor appeared to be flickering, as if it were at too low a refresh rate setting, despite WinXP and Multires assurance that I was running at 85Hz refresh (I thought my six year old monitor was on its way out). Finally, I had one lockup in FS2004, which resulted in the VPU overheat lockup thingy new feature in the 3.8s cutting in and dropping me back to VGA mode.Granted, I have my 9800 card flashed with the Pro bios, hence you could say I am asking for trouble, but my card runs faultessly at even higher overclocking settings with the 3.7 drivers or earlier.As you can guess, I now have the 3.7s reloaded and all symptoms have disappeared. Maybe there is some truth to the 3.8s driving cards harder/hotter than previous versions. I think I'll wait around for the 3.9s.Gary

Yes, I've been having a look at those sites as well and either it's mass hysteria or there's a genuine issue. All I know is that the 3.8's gave me severe stability issues. The severity being well beyond anything I have experienced in the past six years of owning a PC. The finger is being pointed at people who have oc'd or softmodded their cards, but that is petty and absolutely rediculous. The fact of the matter is that many knowledgeable individuals who have oc'd their hardware and carefully and scrupulously ensured that their systems are stable have encountered major issues with the 3.8'sRegards,Joe

>Actually, after a few quirks I've been having with the 3.8's>and reading this post, I went over to rage3d and found posts>touting similar symptoms. >>The problem I was having was that my TV card output window was>showing uncharacteristic tearing, much like the artifacts one>gets in 3DMark2001SE when one cranks the video card>overclocking settings a little too high. Also, my monitor>appeared to be flickering, as if it were at too low a refresh>rate setting, despite WinXP and Multires assurance that I was>running at 85Hz refresh (I thought my six year old monitor was>on its way out). Finally, I had one lockup in FS2004, which>resulted in the VPU overheat lockup thingy new feature in the>3.8s cutting in and dropping me back to VGA mode.>>Granted, I have my 9800 card flashed with the Pro bios, hence>you could say I am asking for trouble, but my card runs>faultessly at even higher overclocking settings with the 3.7>drivers or earlier.>>As you can guess, I now have the 3.7s reloaded and all>symptoms have disappeared. Maybe there is some truth to the>3.8s driving cards harder/hotter than previous versions. I>think I'll wait around for the 3.9s.>>GaryIn your case, you had artifacts because your driving your 9800 into a Pro to start with. You bought a card that wasn't a PRO because through quality testing, either the GPU or RAM had a flaw during the building phase that couldn't handle the regular PRO clock rates so was downgraded. To curtail losses in dollars, the manufacturor will "create" a new model and sell it cheaper.The 3.8's, as with each new driver release, will put more of a load on your card as each system is more optimized than before. Unless ATI actually downgrades their drivers, in most cases your stuck at 3.7 unless you turn down your clock settings. In this case, its not temperature that is the prob, its what the "chips" can handle.Using the 3.7, do a test at first with the RAM clocking to see how far you can go till things break. Then reset the RAM to normal and do the same for the GPU. After this try to increase each to the values you have obtained from the above tests. Now try the 3.8.....I believe you will find you will have to tune things down abit. The "automatic" overclocking is only meant for the TX (whatever the ?X series it is)series 9800, as its the only one with a temperature sensor. The driver will detect this automatically.Just a couple of 0.0002 cents worth.Fraser

ATI's response:_________________________________________________________________3.8

Gary,Have you tried the Omega drivers based on the "Leaked" Dell 3.8's. Very nice, very stable drivers. Did you happen to check to see what brand and speed of memory was on your 9800NP? There are actually 3 different speeds of memory available along with 2 manufacturers. If your card has the 3.0 or 3.2ns memory your flash may have gone wrong as the Infineon memory does not like to flash very well. You want the Samsung 2.8ns chips. Flash takes with no problems and core and mem speeds can be tweaked like crazy.I don't know why your having the issues you are with the 3.8's from ATI. My only thought is the flashed Bios. Just hope that with that flashed Bios you never have to RMA the card if it goes. From first hand experience I can tell you that the Man. look for flashed Bios's and will refuse your RMA. :(Although the 9800Pro 256 in my test set-up is sweet, I like my 9700Pro in my FS9 box. 425Core/385Mem 100% stable with Zalman heatpipe and a 40mm fan on the cold plate. :)Try the omegas, you may be surprised.Bobby

______________________________________________________________Although the 9800Pro 256 in my test set-up is sweet, I like my 9700Pro in my FS9 box. 425Core/385Mem 100% stable with Zalman heatpipe and a 40mm fan on the cold plate. ______________________________________________________________hehehehehe. What'd I say. }(